In this month’s “Finding the Sacred Among the Profane” column, Film Editor Sean Woodard explores the themes of hope and spiritual righteousness in Frank Darabont’s adaptation of the Stephen King classic, The Shawshank Redemption.
In this month’s “Finding the Sacred Among the Profane” column, Film Editor Sean Woodard explores the themes of hope and spiritual righteousness in Frank Darabont’s adaptation of the Stephen King classic, The Shawshank Redemption.
At first, The Politician starts strong as a melodramatic satire of high school politics that the protagonist (Ben Platt), wants to ride all the way to the White House. But as the season progresses, Ryan Murphy takes us down a number of subplots left unfinished—all topped off with a few failed attempts at murder. You know, classic high school drama. It’s like Ryan Murphy invited us into his home to talk about politics, but he’s actually a hoarder and you’re stuck staring at unrelated objects for longer than you need to. The best part: Ben Platt singing.
Season 2 of Insatiable tries to transcend its fatphobic themes from Season 1 and tackle eating disorders, sociopathy, and addiction in different forms. The show still maintains what made Season 1 so brilliant—it’s comedy and commentary on the pageant world. This time, with a Pageant Killer, who is murdering girls in nearly every episode. What the show does well—a big turn from the first season—is show the making of a killer in a modern world. In the end, you’re not sure if you’re rooting for Patty to win. But that’s what keeps you wanting more.
When Breaking Bad ended in 2013, one mystery viewers were left with was the fate of Jesse Pinkman, the beaten and bruised sidekick of Walter White, meth kingpin and all around dickhead. Well, BB fans, wonder no more: El Camino is here to wrap up that loose end in a satisfying bow. Wonder at Jesse's resilience! Marvel at Badger and Skinny Pete's quips! Worry about Jesse's freedom, always in peril! El Camino serves as a satisfying coda to one of the most competent shows of the past 20 years. (Huell fans: sorry, there's no closure there. Maybe next time?)
Joker is not the film you think it is. It’s not a dangerous, male fantasy antihero thriller nor is it a deep character drama that elevates the genre of comic book films. For the most part, Joker is a film with a decent script elevated by phenomenal performances, especially Joaquin Phoenix’s. He manages to paper over the holes in the script with his physical acting and his manic, haunting laugh. The film stumbles when it connects back to its comic book mythos, but it is worth it for Phoenix’s performance alone. Ignore the film’s absurd discourse: watch it for Joaquin.
Renée Zellweger embodies the life of Judy Garland in this biopic based on the play, “End of the Rainbow.” The narrative focuses on the time surrounding her set of sold-out London shows, while dealing with a child custody battle with her ex-husband. A strong supporting cast (including Jessie Buckley, Michael Gambon, and Andy Nyman) round out this PG-13 affair in the vein of Walk the Line and Ray. While Judy barely scratches the surface at the depressing details of Garland’s life, its closing sequence brings tears to the eyes and reminds us that there is hope somewhere over the rainbow.
Maika Monroe (It Follows) and Bill Skarsgard (IT: Chapter Two) star as two lovers on the run who find themselves captives of a couple (Burn Notice’s Jeffrey Donovan and The Closer’s Kyra Sedgwick) after breaking into their home. Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen imbue Villains with a dark comedic edge—from the mysterious child in the basement to the kooky personalities of the sadistic homeowners. This genre exercise relies on powerhouse acting to carry its occasionally uneven scenario to its bloody conclusion. Lastly, the “carwash” sequences between Skarsgard and Monroe are visual character-building examples of pure cinematic genius.
Brad Pitt delivers a masterfully restrained performance as Roy McBride, an astronaut living in his father’s shadow. When the US government requests McBride to communicate with his father near Neptune, he learns all is not as it seems. James Gray, who directed the awe-inspiring Lost City of Z, echoes the scope of 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, this story about daddy issues feels stretched thin. Audience members expecting an action-filled adventure may be disappointed in this methodical character study. Still, Ad Astra contains the most convincing space visuals I’ve seen to date. Experience in IMAX to get your money’s worth.
Based off a true story, Brittany Runs a Marathon tries to be equally inspiring and frank about self-perception. Jillian Bell carries the movie on her two feet (literally) as Brittany attempts to improve her health by jogging. But the movie gets a hamstring when trying to balance its tone. We’re initially drawn to Brittany’s comedic demeanor, but as she criticizes others about their weight, she loses some sympathy points. This is a delicate subject to address. Bell is commendable for a multifaceted performance and the filmmaker’s heart is in the right place, even if the film doesn’t fully come together.
Stephen King’s epic tale comes to a mostly satisfying conclusion, despite uneven storytelling. The near three-hour running time is packed with information, but clunky pacing fails to sustain suspense—especially when the adult-versions of the Loser Club split up to find their childhood tokens to use in a ritual to defeat IT. Overall, acting is strong across the board, although the teen actors from part one possessed a more organic chemistry. Despite reducing the final confrontation’s significance to slinging verbal insults to defeat IT, the film still manages to balance childhood nostalgia without being sappy and retain its emotional heart.
Sylvester Stallone goes Liam Neeson in this final(?) entry in the series. John Rambo now lives a quiet existence on his Arizona Ranch. His college-bound niece, Gabrielle, wants to confront her birth father in Mexico about why he abandoned her, but Rambo forbid her to go. She disobeys him, which leads to him trying to rescue her from a prostitution ring. While the climactic carnage on Rambo’s boobytrapped ranch will satisfy gorehounds, we sadly no longer know what our weary Vietnam vet represents anymore. An end credits montage of classic Rambo moments encourages you to revisit the previous films instead.
Will Butterchips sell out? (I suspect you know the answer).
Gabriel Ricard rates some recent horror flicks for this spooky edition of Captain Canada’s Movie Roundup. And remember—you’ll float, too.
Squidward is frequently cast in more of an antagonistic role, and he is often needlessly cruel to his next-door neighbors SpongeBob and Patrick. But what gets lost in the emotions is the fact that what Squidward wants is completely reasonable: a quiet Sunday afternoon with no noises or distractions. If you had a neighbor as loud and obnoxious as SpongeBob, you’d have a short fuse, too.
we sleep head to head on each side of our common wall
trot up and down our conjoined staircase at predictable times
smile over the backyard fence, friendly
over our skewed densities, eight of them to one of me.
Amaranta opened the door partway and stood in the threshold to survey the pasture. Immediately the cold put its hands on her. The waxing harvest moon shone brightly—always the moonlight looked different, somehow clearer, on cold nights.
The doctors there, probably tired of me and my opiate-related shenanigans, decided I needed to quit my medications cold turkey and admitted me to the hospital to monitor my detox. My hospital roommate had a gastrointestinal ailment involving continuous puking. Across the hall, an elderly woman screamed regularly. I spent about a week there, dope sick and tripping balls.
but this conversation was different;
I had empathy for the listener,
or maybe I was just trying to follow some protocol
by not asking for what I wanted.
Rather, I requested “Help me trust you.”
what’s all this learning worth if not for some day such as this? let’s talk about redistribution. let’s talk about reparations. reconstruction. let’s get even if not even then at least leveled, brought to flatness, nothing in the way.
They keep talking about you as if you’re not there. You’ve always wondered how these types of people speak when no one like you is around. The moose’s eyes meet yours. You and him are buddies. Both of you life-like decorations.